童话故事•格林童话：韩赛尔与格蕾特 - 3

When they had reached the middle of the forest, the father said, "now, children, pile up some wood, and I will light a fire that you may not be cold."

当他们抵达森林中间时,父亲说:“孩子们,堆起木头,我来点燃火堆,这样你们就不觉得冷了。”

Hansel and Gretel gathered brushwood together, as high as a little hill.

韩赛尔和格蕾特一起收集木柴,堆得像小山一样高。

The brushwood was lighted, and when the flames were burning very high, the woman said, "now, children, lay yourselves down by the fire and rest, we will go into the forest and cut some wood. When we have done, we will come back and fetch you away."

柴堆点燃后,火焰烧得很旺,继母说:“孩子们,躺在火堆旁休息一下,我们要去森林里再砍些柴。等砍完柴就回来接你们。”

Hansel and Gretel sat by the fire, and when noon came, each ate a little piece of bread, and as they heard the strokes of the wood-axe they believed that their father was near.

韩赛尔和格蕾特坐在火堆旁,中午每人只吃了一小块面包。他们听着斧子砍柴的声音,以为父亲就在附近。

It was not the axe, however, but a branch which he had fastened to a withered tree which the wind was blowing backwards and forwards.

然而那并不是斧子发出的声音,而是父亲事先绑的一根树枝,树枝挂在枯树上,被风吹动着来回撞击枯树发出了这种声音。

And as they had been sitting such a long time, their eyes closed with fatigue, and they fell fast asleep.

他们就这样坐了很长时间,终于忍受不了困倦,沉沉地睡过去了。

When at last they awoke, it was already dark night. Gretel began to cry and said, "how are we to get out of the forest now?" But Hansel comforted her and said, "just wait a little, until the moon has risen, and then we will soon find the way."

等他们醒来已是晚上,周围漆黑一片。格蕾特哭了起来:“我们怎么走出森林?”韩赛尔安慰她说:“等一会儿月亮升起,我们就能找到出路了。”

And when the full moon had risen, Hansel took his little sister by the hand, and followed the pebbles which shone like newly-coined silver pieces, and showed them the way.

一轮满月升起,韩赛尔牵着妹妹的手,顺着发光的鹅卵石往回走。这些鹅卵石就像新铸造的银币闪闪发亮,为他们指明了回家的路。

…… to be continued.

未完待续